Planning for the next century of reliable service
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (Met Council) is beginning a long-range study to guide how wastewater will be collected, treated, and recovered in the Southeast Metro area, primarily Dakota County. This planning effort will set the course for supporting community growth, protecting public health and the environment, and building a resilient system for generations to come.
The time to imagine our future is now
The southeast metro is growing, and with that growth comes the need to plan for critical infrastructure. The southeast metro area is currently served by two of our regional water resource recovery facilities: one in Empire and one in Hastings. The existing water resource recovery facility in Hastings is expected to be phased out and replaced with a new service solution in the future. That decision, along with the need to support growth with continued high value wastewater treatment creates an opportunity to step back, take a regional view, and imagine how wastewater service can best support the communities of the future.
By planning today, we can:
- Maintain safe, reliable service that protects people and the environment.
- Deliver economical, efficient regional service that keeps long-term costs sensible.
- Build resilience for the next 100 years, by designing infrastructure with room for innovation in energy, water, and resource recovery.
- Incorporate community voices. Outreach will gather service needs, local constraints and identify coordination opportunities.
Our timeline
Planning for major infrastructure is a long process. Here’s what to expect in the years ahead:
Phase 1: Understand community needs and priorities
(Fall 2025 to 2026)
Met Council staff will meet with cities, townships and counties in the service area to understand community priorities, questions, and needs.
Phase 2: Study preliminary technical scope options
(2026 to 2027)
Engineers and planners will study wastewater system options, look at environmental considerations, and begin to scope potential options that will serve growth for the next century.
Phase 3: Determine specific plans and sequences
(2027 and beyond)
The Met Council will identify specific projects, timelines, and sequencing. Communities will continue to have opportunities to provide input as plans are refined.
Our commitment
This planning study does not change community growth forecasts or the Met Council’s commitment to providing regional wastewater service that supports the 2050 planning cycle. What it does mean is that we’re taking the time now to work with communities, transparently and collaboratively, to make thoughtful decisions about how to best serve this part of the region well into the future.
Project Contacts
For assistance, call | Si necesita ayuda, llame al | Xav tau kev pab, hu | Wixii kaalmo ah, ka wac | Để được hỗ trợ, hãy gọi | လၢတၢ်ဃ့န့ၢ်တၢ်မၤစၢၤအဂီၢ, ကိးဘၣ်ဖဲ
John Chlebeck: 651-602-4527 or [email protected]
Judy Sventek: 651-602-1156 or [email protected]
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